Deal plate

ABSTRACT

A counter for a teller&#39;&#39;s cage and the like having a transparent top section covering a recess provided with an inclined wall upon which is affixed a message or other indicia in a plane substantially normal to the line of vision of a patron or customer. The size of inclined wall in relation to the depth of the recess and the area or length of the transparent top section are such that the message or indicia are clearly visible to the patron with no interfering reflections from the surface of the transparent section at all normal viewing angles. In one embodiment a slot is provided for ready insertion and withdrawal of the indicia in printed card form. In another embodiment the inclined wall is transparent or transluscent and means are provided to transmit the indicia therethrough as a projected or moving image. Other embodiments are disclosed.

United States Patent Hoesch July 31, 1973 DEAL PLATE Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [76] Inventor: Vernon S. Hoesch, 140 S. Wright St., Assistant Examme' l Oremland Naperville Attorney-Rummler & SHOW [22] Filed: July 26, 1971 App]. No.: 164,842

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 813,569, April 4, 1969, abandoned.

US. Cl. 40/63 R, 40/10, 109/10,

109/19, 312/1401, 312/234.1 Int. Cl. G091 11/30 Field of Search 40/10, 63;

[57] ABSTRACT A counter for a tellers cage and the like having a transparent top section covering a recess provided with an inclined wall upon which is affixed a message or other indicia in a plane substantially normal to the line of vision of a patron or customer. The size of inclined wall in relation to the depth of the recess and the area or length of the transparent top section are such that the message or indicia are clearly visible to the patron with no interfering reflections from the surface of the transparent section at all normal viewing angles. In one embodiment a slot is provided for ready insertion and withdrawal of the indicia in printed card form. In another embodiment the inclined wall is transparent or transluscent and means are provided to transmit the indicia therethrough as a projected or moving image. Other embodiments are disclosed.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIED m3 R m w W VERNON s. HOESCH B) M f DEAL PLATE This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 813,569, filed 4/4/69, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art provides various forms of currency viewers and so-called deal drawers for use at a counter where transactions involving the exchange of money are conducted as in a bank, credit department or currency exchange. Hand operated devices having safety features are provided which allow the teller to receive and return papers and money in full and unrestricted view of the customer, and can include an ad or sign on a pivoted plate or other parts.

No provision is made in the art for a simple advertising display to be used or as part of a deal plate which is simple to use, economical and presents a message to the customer in an attractive manner and with a minimum of mechanical parts. The instant invention is directed to a bank tellers deal plate and the like which is easy to use, of simple construction and adapted to cooperate with alternative means of projecting an image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a deal plate provided with simple, easily replaced and easily manipulated recessed display means positioned in a plane substantially normal to the line of vision of a customer and arranged to give a depth perception and immediate attentionattracting appearance. In one embodiment the device is adapted to use inexpensive and readily interchangeable display cards. Means are provided to continuously or intermittently change the display or to transmit a projected image into a plane directly in the line of sight of a customer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of a counter showing the deal plate of this invention as viewed from the customers side;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the display is in the form of a movable tape;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is a similar view of another embodiment for employing a projected image.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown wherein the tellers counter 10, being a flat surface of hard wood, marble or the like and having a supporting wall 12 before which a patron stands, is provided with the upright partition members 14 and I6 defining a spaced opening 18-for the passage of papers, money, etc. and the transaction of business.

The top has an opening 20 (see also FIG. 4) of rectangular configuration, fitted with a transparent plate or sheet 22 of glass, plastic or the like. The top plane of the sheet 22 is coplanar with the top surface of the counter I0 to provide a smooth plane working surface across the counter I0 between the ends of the partition members 14 and I6 for the patron and teller to use. The plate 22 can be set into a peripheral recessed edge 23 around the opening 20 or otherwise attached.

Below the opening 20 there is provided the housing 24 having the side walls 26, a downwardly and rear wardly inclined wall 28 and an inclined rear or back wall 30 joined together at an angle along the bottom edge 32. The rear edge of the transparent sheet or plate 22 is longitudinally recessed from the edge of opening 20 to form a slot 34 opening into the interior of the housing 24. The slot provides a means for the insertion of a display card 36 bearing indicia, as at 38, forming a message to be viewed by the patron. Any desired means can be used to hold and affix the housing 24 within and against the opening 20, such as brackets, screws or adhesive.

The walls 28 and 30 are joined and positioned at an angle such that the plane of the card 36 is in full view of the patron as he stands before the counter transacting his business. The card 36 can be removed and replaced, as desired, from time to time with cards bearing different messages.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 3A and 4, the indicia or display is animated, moving, or a series of slide projections. Other types of projection or reproduction can be used to place a visible message in the plane of the rear wall 30. Thus, in FIG. 3 a part or all of the rear wall is covered by or replaced by the moving tape 40 carried by the rollers 42 and 44 at each end. The rollers are mounted on shafts 46 and 48 respectively held in place by suitable brackets 50 and 52. The brackets can be affixed to the walls 26 or to the bottom of the counter 18 or other structural members.

The rollers 42 and 44 can be turned by hand to produce an intermittent change in the indicia appearing on the tape 46 or can be motor driven to present a panoramic message thereacross. For these purposes the wall 30 can be transparent glass and the tape, which is the same width as the wall can be moved in a plane adjacent the outside or upper surface of the glass. The wall 30 can be omitted so that the tape alone encloses the housing on that side. Sufficient tension would be placed on the tape between the rollers to maintain the viewing surface flat and wrinkle-free.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the wall 30 can be formed of ground glass or other translucent material and a mirror 54 mounted therebelow so that the reflecting surface 56 of the mirror can reflect an image from a projector 58 to the underside of the plate or wall 30 and thus form an image visible to a viewer standing before the counter 10. The projector 58 can be a slide projector or a moving picture projector which is automatically operated. Access, such as a door, not shown, at the rear or tellers side of the counter 10 would be provided to service, clean and change tapes, slides or films in the respective projection means.

Instead of having the slot 34 at the top edge of the plate 30 either of the walls 26 can have an inclined slot 34' (FIG. 4) just above the plane of the plate 30 to receive and position the card 36 upon this plate. The junction 32 forms a retaining corner for the card 36 so that it cannot move from its inclined position against the plate 30. Thus, in the event the projector 58 is not used or fails to function, the device shown in FIG. 4 can be used in the manner of that of FIG. 1. Likewise, the use of end slots in the walls 26 can cooperate in holding the card 36 in position by providing cards that are slightly longer than the horizontal length of the plate 30 What is claimed is:

1. A bank tellers deal plate having front and rear edges and an opening between said edges, a transparent wall over said opening and in the plane of the top surface of said plate, an inclined wall located below said transparent wall, said inclined wall extending from adjacent the rear edge of said transparent wall downwardly and forwardly at an angle such that indicia on said wall are clearly visible to a person standing in front of the deal plate with no interfering reflections from the transparent wall at all normal viewing angles, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall extending from adjacent the front edge of said opening and meeting the first mentioned inclined wall below said opening, and means for displaying informative indicia on said inclined wall, said means comprising an indicia bearing element adapted to be received by and rest against said first mentioned inclined wall said indicia bearing element being supported at its lower extremity by the juncture of said inclined walls, and means for removing the indicia bearing element from said first mentioned inclined wall to permit the informative indicia to be changed.

2. A deal plate as in claim 1 in which said inclined walls are part ofa housing below the top surface of said plate, said housing also having vertically disposed side walls each of which extends from said plate to the said inclined walls, and said last mentioned means means comprising a slot formed along the rearward edge of the transparent wall adjacent said first mentioned inclined wall to receive informative indicia and said indicia bearing element being in the form of a display card receivable by said slot to be supported in an inclined visible position on said first mentioned inclined wall.

I! i i i i 

1. A bank teller''s deal plate having front and rear edges and an opening between said edges, a transparent wall over said opening and in the plane of the top surface of said plate, an inclined wall located below said transparent wall, said inclined wall extending from adjacent the rear edge of said transparent wall downwardly and forwardly at an angle such that indicia on said wall are clearly visible to a person standing in front of the deal plate with no interfering reflections from the transparent wall at all normal viewing angles, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall extending from adjacent the front edge of said opening and meeting the first mentioned inclined wall below said opening, and means for displaying informative indicia on said inclined wall, said means comprising an indicia bearing element adapted to be received by and rest against said first mentioned inclined wall said indicia bearing element being supported at its lower extremity by the juncture of said inclined walls, and means for removing the indicia bearing element from said first mentioned inclined wall to permit the informative indicia to be changed.
 2. A deal plate as in claim 1 in which said inclined walls are part of a housing below the top surface of said plate, said housing also having vertically disposed side walls each of which extends from said plate to the said inclined walls, and said last mentioned means means comprising a slot formed along the rearward edge of the transparent wall adjacent said first mentioned inclined wall to receive informative indicia and said indicia bearing element being in the form of a display card receivable by said slot to be supported in an inclined visible position on said first mentioned inclined wall. 